None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of the study is to determine if short-term exposure to biodiverse environments modulates or affects gut microbiota, immune responses, FENO, lung function and asthma and allergy symptoms in a group of children with asthma. We hypothesise that exposure to biodiversity may improve asthma symptoms and control, and that this effect may be driven by the more abundant and numerous bacteria present in biodiverse environments.
Interventions
This study is now a single-period non-randomised trial. All participants will be assessed at baseline, and then asked to visit a high vegetation diverse area (described below) at least twice, and for a minimum of 2 hours a week, for a 3-month period. For these periods they will be asked to walk/spend time in close proximity to vegetation. During this period participants will be asked to keep a diary of their visits and we will collect admission data from Zealandia to determine adherence. At the
This study is now a single-period non-randomised trial. All participants will be assessed at baseline, and then asked to visit a high vegetation diverse area (described below) at least twice, and for a minimum of 2 hours a week, for a 3-month period. For these periods they will be asked to walk/spend time in close proximity to vegetation. During this period participants will be asked to keep a diary of their visits and we will collect admission data from Zealandia to determine adherence. At the end of the 3-month period, all participants will be assessed. Local areas of high native vegetation diversity around Wellington, New Zealand (including Zealandia ecosanctuary) will be used as the site of high biodiverse exposure. Vegetation diversity will be quantified using normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the Land-Cover Database (Landcare Research NZ),
Sponsors
Research Centre for Hauora and Health (Formerly Centre for Public Health Research), Massey University
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
11 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Doctor's diagnosis of asthma and reported wheeze in the last 12 months
Exclusion criteria
Other significant cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Regular use of oral corticosteroid medication.
Outcome results
None listed